14.04.2016 Views

manusmriti

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

LAWS OF MANU<br />

105. A guest who is sent by the (setting) sun in the evening, must not be driven<br />

away by a householder; whether he have come at (supper-) time or at an inopportune<br />

moment, he must not stay in the house without entertainment.<br />

106. Let him not eat any (dainty) food which he does not offer to his guest; the<br />

hospitable reception of guests procures wealth, fame, long life, and heavenly bliss.<br />

107. Let him offer (to his guests) seats, rooms, beds, attendance on departure<br />

and honour (while they stay), to the most distinguished in the best form, to the lower<br />

ones in a lower form, to equals in an equal manner.<br />

108. But if another guest comes after the Vaisvadeva offering has been finished,<br />

(the householder) must give him food according to his ability, (but) not repeat the Bali<br />

offering.<br />

109. A Brahmana shall not name his family and (Vedic) gotra in order to obtain a<br />

meal; for he who boasts of them for the sake of a meal, is called by the wise a foul<br />

feeder (vantasin).<br />

Atithi Devo Bhavah<br />

अतथ देवो भवः<br />

The guest is God<br />

matrudevo bhava,<br />

pitrudevo bhava,<br />

acharyadevo bhava,<br />

atithidevo bhava.<br />

Be one for whom the Mother is God,<br />

Be one for whom the Father is God,<br />

Be one for whom the Teacher is God,<br />

Be one for whom the guest is God.<br />

Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli I.20<br />

The five steps from the worship become the five formalities to be observed<br />

while receiving guests:<br />

1. Fragrance (Dhupa) - While receiving guests the rooms must have a<br />

pleasant fragrance, because this is the first thing that attracts or detracts<br />

119

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!